Sometimes it’s nice to see a familiar face. That’s the idea that birthed the River Valley All-Star Battle, which will pit notable alumni from Russellville High School against the same from Dardanelle High School inside Cyclone Gymnasium today at 7 p.m.

“Everbody comes home to visit their families, they just don’t come home at the same time.” Anthony Jackson, who helped organize the event, said. “We decided to put something together where everyone could come and see one another. It’s for everbody that’s coming back in to town, that lives here, people that have moved away to get together with people that they went to school with and played basketball with.”

“We’re just trying to reach out to the community,” Jackson said. “All the proceeds are going to the Russellville Booster Club and the Boys and Girls Club.”

Two games will be played today, the first featuring alumni who graduated between 2003 and 2010 and the second for alumni who graduated between 1991 and 2003. A halfcourt shot contest will be conducted at halftime of each game with a prize of $500.

In addition to the basketball game, a meet-and-greet cookout will begin at noon on Saturday at James Park in Russellville, and a Reunion Comedy Show will begin at Front Street Grill in Dardanelle at 8 p.m..

“The idea just came to Marcus Thompson and myself from growing up in Russellville,” he said. “Some of these people I haven’t seen since I graduated. Some of them I haven’t seen in 12 years.”

Jackson said there were no plans to make the event an annual one, but admitted that it was something they’d like to try and repeat.